Chapter 329: Farewell to Senior Sister, the Soul of Miss Lin

On the street, the beating of gongs and drums continued, as lively as ever.

Inside the shop, after finishing the reunion dinner and while Qingwen had gone to the backyard to clear the dishes, Luo Zijun brought up the matter of his departure on the second day of the New Year.

"What? You brat are going to the Daughter Kingdom?"

Su Dafang was drinking his after-dinner tea; upon hearing this, he spat out a mouthful of tea, his face full of shock.

Immediately, his gaze turned toward his granddaughter at his side.

Su Qingling sat nearby, expressionless, saying nothing.

Luo Zijun also glanced to the side and said, "Yes, Bai Daxiaojie has gone to the Daughter Kingdom, and I must go and bring her back."

Su Dafang asked skeptically, "Why did she go to the Daughter Kingdom? It's so far away; can she get there all by herself?"

Luo Zijun said, "Someone abducted her, but I don't know who it is, so I must go and rescue her."

Su Dafang's gaze turned to the side once more, his expression complex, and he muttered to himself, "Daughter Kingdom... Daughter Kingdom... that is no good place..."

Luo Zijun's expression shifted: "Has Master been there?"

Su Dafang rolled his eyes at him and said, "Why would I go there? It's all a bunch of spirits; I wouldn't dare go."

Luo Zijun said, "Then how does Master know it is not a good place?"

Su Dafang picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said crossly, "Just because I haven't been there doesn't mean I haven't heard of it. They say the women there suck the marrow from people's bones and drink their blood; they are even more terrifying than demons and ghosts."

"You are not allowed to go."

At this moment, Su Qingling, who was to the side, suddenly spoke coldly.

She stood up and went to the counter, her hand once again gripping that thick Rolling Pin, her stunning face shrouded in a layer of icy frost.

Su Dafang hurriedly stood up and said, "You two talk; I'm going to sleep."

Luo Zijun had no choice but to tell the truth: "Master, Senior Sister, actually, the place I am going to is not the Daughter Kingdom, but the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons that borders it."

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire room suddenly went quiet.

"The Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons?"

Su Dafang stopped at the foot of the stairs, stunned, and looking at him, asked, "What are you going there for?"

Luo Zijun went over to bolt the shop door, looked at the two of them, and said, "The Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons is a nation composed of demon families. Bai Daxiaojie didn't go to the Daughter Kingdom; she was abducted to the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons."

Su Dafang's eyes lit up: "Was she abducted to be a snack?"

Judging by his tone, he seemed somewhat gleeful.

Luo Zijun glanced at him and said with a complex tone, "I don't know, so I must rush there to save her as soon as possible."

As for the fact that Bai Daxiaojie was a demon, it was better not to say it.

He was afraid that Master and Senior Sister would not be able to accept it.

To abandon everything here for a demon, to travel over mountains and rivers, risking his life to go to the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons—was he crazy?

Su Dafang had a strange expression on his face: "Just you? All by yourself, going to a country full of demons and ghosts to save someone?"

Luo Zijun was silent for a moment, then said, "Master, there are some things that, even if you know they are impossible, you must do. Just as if you and Senior Sister were in danger, I would certainly risk my life to save you."

Su Dafang immediately glared and said, "You brat, you actually compare that Bai Daxiaojie to your Senior Sister? Are you tired of living?"

Su Qingling gripped the Rolling Pin, standing inside the counter, her stunning face cold as ice.

Luo Zijun said, "Regardless, she is the wife with whom I formally bowed and married, and furthermore, she has shown me kindness. Being ungrateful is not something a person should do."

Su Dafang glanced at the counter again, shrugged, and said, "Suit yourself, brat. I can't control you anymore, but your Senior Sister certainly can. If you really want to go, you must first get your Senior Sister's permission."

Having said this, he went straight upstairs.

Luo Zijun knew this old man had no say in the matter. Seeing him go upstairs, he walked to the counter and looked at the person inside, saying, "Senior Sister, do you think that as a true man, one should take on one's responsibilities? Should one not repay kindness?"

Su Qingling gripped the Rolling Pin, her eyes cold as she looked at him, saying nothing.

"I have already decided on this matter..."

After a brief silence, Luo Zijun said with a firm tone.

Su Qingling remained standing motionless inside the counter, saying nothing, only looking at him coldly.

"Senior Sister, I'm sorry..."

Luo Zijun apologized softly.

The room fell into silence once again.

At this time, on the street outside, the lively sounds of firecrackers, the chasing and playing of children, and the scolding of adults rang out again.

Luo Zijun looked at the cold, silent, stunning person inside the counter, who looked like an ice sculpture. He very much wanted to go in, hold her soft, cold little hands, hug her, or even kiss her, and comfort her with soft words, but in the end, he only said, "Senior Sister, it is very late; you should rest early, and I should head back too."

He did not linger and turned to leave.

Opening the door, as he reached the threshold, he suddenly stopped, turned his head to look at her, was silent for a moment, and said softly, "It is true that she and I are no longer husband and wife, but I cannot not save her..."

He paused, then looked into her cold, beautiful eyes and said, "Senior Sister, after I return, I will have my elder sister and brother-in-law come here... to propose marriage for me."

Having said this, he stepped out the door and soon disappeared into the lively street outside.

Inside the shop, it became quiet once again.

A long while later, Su Dafang's voice suddenly sounded at the foot of the stairs: "What should we do? That is not a place he should go."

The young girl in the counter did not speak; she only lowered her head slightly, looking at the Rolling Pin in her hand.

Su Dafang's gaze also looked over, and he could not help but sigh: "Grandfather knew that you would eventually have to go back, but I just didn't expect it would be because of this brat."

He then sighed again: "If you have decided, tell me, and I will go notify them. Those people have been looking forward to it for so long; some have had their beards turn white waiting, and some have already been buried in the yellow earth, yet they are still waiting..."

The young girl in the counter still did not speak, but the long, black hair reaching her waist behind her suddenly began to drift gently. At first, it was like black waves, rising and falling, and then, it suddenly parted, appearing unexpectedly like tails twisting about.

Outside, fireworks shot into the night sky, and the brilliance after the explosion illuminated the entire Lin'an City.

Luo Zijun arrived at Chujian Bookstore and found that only Xiao Lan was in the shop. Only then did he remember that tonight was the reunion night, and Chujian should be at home accompanying her family.

Leaving Chujian Bookstore, he walked along aimlessly.

When he arrived at Daguanyuan, he found the garden quiet and peaceful, and the lanterns hanging at the entrance had already been extinguished.

Shu Shen, who was guarding the gate, hurried out to welcome him and told him, "Tonight, Jia Laotaitai sent Jia Zheng over to take the young ladies to Rongguo Mansion for dinner; they haven't returned yet, and only a few maidservants are inside. If Young Master wishes to see the young ladies, I shall have the maidservants go and call them back right now."

Luo Zijun said, "No need, let them stay there and keep Jia Laotaitai company."

After all, they were family; no matter how much conflict there was, the bond of blood could not be severed, especially since Jia Zheng had come to invite them personally.

Although Jia Zheng was a hypocrite, he was not a bad person, and he treated those young ladies quite well.

Jia Laotaitai was getting on in years and could pass away at any time; letting the young ladies go back to liven things up for the reunion night was only human nature.

"I will go in and wander around by myself."

Luo Zijun told Shu Shen to go and rest, then entered Daguanyuan himself, strolling about while thinking over the matters regarding their departure on the second day of the new year.

Just as he reached a garden, he suddenly saw a familiar figure sitting in the pavilion ahead, talking with three maidservants.

That figure was draped in a snow-white fox fur cloak, her frame slender and delicate, possessing a refined and ethereal beauty; her appearance was elegant, charming, and deeply moving—who could it be if not Lin Meimei?

Luo Zijun deliberately muffled his footsteps and crept over, preparing to give them a fright.

Who would have thought that just as he reached a distance of four or five meters from them, Lin Daiyu, who was sitting by the railing, suddenly shifted her expression and looked toward him.

"Who is it!"

At this moment, Zijuan also suddenly turned her head and shouted, a cold, gleaming Dagger appearing in her hand.

"Luo... Young Master Luo?"